Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-27
INVESTIGATION AT K0U1
The Charge Of Judge Field to the
Grand Jury
Outspoken And to the POint-Every
Man Should Read 1t.

VALPARAISO, Ind, Oct. 22-The grand
jury of this county is now at work inves-
t1gatlng the Kouts railroad disaster.
They propose to make thorough inquiry
into the cause of the wreck, and are as
sisted by Mr.. Edward Crumpacker, the
prosecuting attorney. Quite a number
of railroad men of the Chicago and At
lant1c and others have been summoned
to appear before the jury. The charge
OF Judge Fields to the jury is as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY: { have
called you together for the special pur-
pose OF making investigation into the
facts of the late railros disaster in this
county. Last week, as you are aware, On
the Chicago and Atlanta railroad freight
ran into passenger train, causing great
loss of human life.
General information that this occurred
only fifty miles from Chicago, after the
passenger train had been out nearly five
hours, struggling along a good part of
this time with crippled engine; with re-
regular telegraph stations over this lance
only six to eight miles apart; with perfect
telegraphic communication at each of
these stations; with such safeguards, this
freight train was permitted to crash in
to the passenger train with dreadful
ton has justly created great public in
dignation. The feelings of the public,
however, have no place in this investiga-
ton of yours. Indictments founded on pub
lie clamor alone will be fruitless of good
results, and in violation of your sworn
duty. Wether or not there is criminal
responsibility in this case must there
fore be determined by you from the evil
dence adduced. If on this investigation
you find no criminal responsibility at
taches, tho public have yet the right to
know what the facts are as fond by a
body of men charged under the Law with
careful and impartial investigation.
These lives lost in this collision invoke
from all In authority courageous dis
charge of official duty, and L therefore
instruct you to spare no effort and no ex-
pense to bring before you every witness
and all means of information tending to
throw light on this question, and by care
full thought and impartial judgment de-
teraine whether there is criminal res
possibility on the part of anyone; and if
you determine that there is present such
by Indictment, to this court for trial. 1t
may be, as / have already said, that when
you are in full possession of all the facts
you will not be able to bring the case with
IN any statutory provision of criminal
responsibility, for strangely enough,
there is a noticeable want of proper and
efficient legislation in this state controlling
the actions of trainmen, agents, and Off
GERS of railroad com panies, and as great
lack of legislation regulating the heat
ing and lighting of care. We know by
Observable that the failure to enact rig
id lave TO regninte these things with Sc
verefpenaL l fs,, la q of neglect to OBJ
serve them' lnduce1< degree of careless
mess ana neglec0 "hi1h otter, and, in
deed &enetally, resuS5 in as great a de-
st1uctNoh OF IRE ssfrom any other cause
of railrQsd n. Management. If this is
found tds6e so, in this case, it will
not be your fault, but the fault of the
law. Even in this event, do not abate
your efforts, and do not regard your la
bors as unavailing. For although the
morally guilty may escape, in this in
stance, for want of proper laws, your re-
port Of the facts, emphasized as they will
be by the destruction of SO many human
lives, will aid materially in characterize
ing our present laws as weak and ineffi-
cient and will SO thoroughly awaken the
public mind to the necessity of more
comprehensive laws, that such experien-
cess Jas this may not IL the future occur, or
If they do, that no guilty man shall es-
ape on account of the failure of the law
so embrace his offence.
| need hardly say &c grand jury Of
this county ever had such weighty res
possibilities. You are fortunate, in this
emergency, in having for your legal adviser
prosecuting attorney who is able, dis
Greet, and fearless. The law makes him
your legal adviser, and [ feel assured that
when you have completed this investi-
cation the law will be satisfied and the
public will know that ell has betn done
in the premises that can be done.